Ole Miss Students Died Near Illegally Listed Drug Ingredient, Ex-Prosecutor Says

Two University of Mississippi students died in September in proximity to synthetic kratom tablets that list an ingredient the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has recently declared illegal. The sale of such products is now considered unlawful, according to a former federal prosecutor.

Aidan Hamilton, 18, and Robert Strang, 20, were discovered deceased on September 21. Hamilton's death is being investigated as potentially resulting from Pulmonary Edema, a condition consistent with a drug overdose. Strang was found unresponsive at his residence near campus.

Packaging found near both students identified the brand as Modus, with the tablets labeled Smax Pseudo-DHM. Court documents state that ingredients listed on the packaging included pseudoindoxyl and MGM-15(DHM). The DEA placed mitragynine pseudoindoxyl, identified by law enforcement as likely referring to this compound, into its Schedule I controlled substances list on August 26, prohibiting its sale.

Lab results to confirm the contents of the tablets are pending.

Modus Brand, which has offices in Florida and California, does not currently list the Smax Pseudo Tablets on its website. The company describes its products as a "next-generation approach to botanical supplements, offering a carefully formulated, high-quality product in a convenient chewable format."

In connection with Hamilton's death, two employees at Puffs Vape, Tobacco and Beer Store in Oxford were arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute. Officials have stated they do not believe there is a connection between these arrests and Hamilton's death.

According to court documents, the synthetic kratom product found near Strang was purchased at a gas station approximately 30 minutes from Oxford. However, the owner of that gas station told Fox News Digital that the specific Smax tablets found near Strang did not originate from his store, citing differences in packaging and price stickers. He added that federal agents seized his entire kratom inventory on the Friday prior to the report.

Former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani stated that selling products containing MGM-15 is illegal following its rescheduling by the DEA. "It would be unlawful for anyone... to sell MGM-15 after it was categorized as Schedule I," Rahmani said. "Now, to be prosecuted, the Department of Justice would have to prove intent."

Rahmani also noted that Modus, the brand named on the packaging, could face civil and potentially criminal liability if its products are found to contain a Schedule I substance. "There's no doubt that Modus and any company that distributed this drug can face civil, even criminal, liability," he explained. "If you put out a dangerous product... criminal liability for the distributors can attach as well, and it can be the manufacturer, it can be the street level dealer, the wholesaler, anyone in the supply chain that distributes a Schedule I drug can absolutely be held responsible."

Modus did not respond to requests for comment from Fox News Digital.